County Relay for Life is among top earners

October 26, 2010

As the 2010 calendar year comes to a close for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life we would like to say thank you to the residents of Emmet County for your generous support of the ACS Emmet County Relay for Life.

Emmet County finished sixth in the nation and second in our division for monies raised with the same per capita area. Our divisions consists of Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

With the monies that have been raised the following achievements have been accomplished.

n The five-year survival rate for all cancers has risen to 68 percent.

n Helped with education of woman 40 and over to get their annual mammogram for early breast cancer detection to 63 percent.

n Assisted over 5,000 Iowans through the program funded by the American Cancer Society's "Look Good Feel Better" and "Ride to Recovery" programs.

n Assisted cancer patients at the Russell and Ann Gerdin HOPE Lodge in providing free lodging while having treatments and doctor visits at the University of Iowa hospitals.

n Funding nine cancer research grants at the University of Iowa Hospital totaling $6.5 million

n Help reach for the goal of 100 percent smoke-free United States-currently at 79 percent.

Without your assistance, none of these goals can be attained. Whether you were a corporate sponsor, event sponsor, team captain, team member, purchased one raffle ticket or attended a fundraiser, you have had a part in the fight against cancer and with HOPE someday we will be able to have a celebrating that there has been a cure found.

If you need assistance, whether your are a new diagnosee or been fighting, please call 1-800-227-2345. There is a human answering the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year never a machine saying we are closed cancer never closes.

We would like to invite everyone to the Armstrong Community Center for our 2011-kickoff fundraiser on Nov. 27, 2010. We will be serving a meal and having a silent auction and live auction that evening. Tickets may be purchased at Treats to Treasures, NorthStar Bank, Inman Electric, Employees Credit Union, all in Estherville; and in Armstrong at NorthStar Bank and in Ringsted at Emmet County State Bank and Harolds.